Display box



Dec. 28, 1937. Y J, L. HAWKINSON msrmw Box Filed Sept. 5, 1955 r BY \HIS ATTORNEYS Patented Dec. 28, 1937 was PATENT oFFics DISPLAY BOX 7 John L. Hawkinson, Hartford, Conn., assignor to The Arrow-Hart & Hegeman Electric {Jmpany, Hartford, Conn, a corporation of Connecticut Application September 5, 1935, Serial No. 39,329

3 Claims.

This invention relates to containers which may be opened up and used for displaying small articles of merchandise such as, for example, perfumes, cosmetics or any small article.

It is an object of this invention to provide a boxer container for a small article of merchandise which box or container may be opened up and used as a display means for the article.

Another object of the invention is .to provide a box or container of the above type which will have interfitting parts when the container is opened up and will provide an effective and attractive display device and will also form a container of conventional shape when the parts are in position to enclose the article of merchandise.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will appear as it is described in connection with the accompanying drawing.

- In the drawing:-

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a box or container embodying the principles of my invention, with the parts fitted together in open or display position.

Figure 2 is a front elevation view of the container with the parts fitted together in position to enclose the article of merchandise.

Figure 3 is a transverse section View taken on line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a side elevation View of the container as shown in Figure 2.

Referring to the drawing the box or container comprises a cover portion It and a base portion l2 which may be fitted together in either of two positions. In one position, that of Figures 2, 3

j and 4, the parts are fitted for enclosing an article of merchandise. In the other position the parts are fitted to display the article to advantage upon a counter, show case or the like. When the parts are in enclosing position as shown in Figures 2 and 4, there is formed a container of conventional rectangular prismatic shape with parallel rectangular ends. The cover portion It comprises a plane rectangular back wall 14 which has joined to it or integrally formed with it at its top edge,

a plane top wall it which is perpendicular to said back wall i l. Likewise, plane side walls is and are parallel to each other and are joined to the vertical edges of the back wall It and. are perpendicular thereto as well as being perpendicular to the top wall it. The front wall 22 of the cover is plane and parallel to the rear wall l4 and is joined to the front edges of the top and side walls I6, 18 and 20 or may be integrally formed therewith. This front wall 22 may be tapered downwardly to the neighborhood of the center of the front of the container taken as a whole. This tapered portion 22t may cooperate and interfit with a tapered recess in a plane vertical back wall 2d of the base portion l2 whether or not the parts are in enclosing position, or open position. Preferably the front edges of the side walls I8 and 20 of the cover portion H] will be recessed or 'cut away from the bottom up to the joint between the vertical wall 24 of the base l2 and the front wall 22 of the cover It. This recess will be equal in depth to the thickness of the walls 2d and 22, the thickness of these two walls being equal. Preferably also -a tongue will be provided along the bottom edge of the wall 22 to engage with a groove in the upper edge of the wall 24 so that. the cover and base will have a dove-tail connection between the walls 22 and 24. When the walls 22 andZe are thus joined, they form a continuous plane surface or front wall of the device.

Attached to or formed integrally with the bottom portion of the wall 26 is a receptacle portion comprising a bottom wall extending perpendicular to the vertical wall 24 from the bottom edge thereof and side walls 28 and 30 extending up from the side edges of the bottom wall perpendicular to the vertical wall 24 near the vertical edges thereof, the bottom wall being of less width than the vertical wall 2A. The side walls 28 and 3t and the bottom Wall 26 thus form the side and bottom walls, while the vertical wall 24 forms the back wall, of the receptacle portion. An article of merchandise may be deposited upon the bottom wall 25 between the side walls 23 and 3B. In order to keep the article from falling forward away from thevertical wall 24, extensions of the side walls 28 and may be provided as at 28a and Sta extending a short distance across the front edge of the bottom wall 26. Theseextensions will be parallel to the vertical wall 24.

It will be seen that the overall dimensions of the receptacle portion must be less than the distance between the inner surfaces of the vertical walls of the cover portion ill so that when the cover portion is in enclosing position as shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4, the vertical walls I l, l8 and 20 will surround the receptacle portion of the base. The tapering portion 221? will cooperate with the recess in the Wall 24 in this enclosing position and thus the wall 22 and the wall 26 will form one of the outside vertical walls of the container while the walls I4, I83 and 20 will form the other two outside vertical walls. The top wall It of course will be the top wall of the container and the bottom wall 26 of the receptacle portion will be the bottom wall of the container.

A transverse groove 32 may be provided in the bottom face of bottom wall 26 and a pair of parallel ribs 34 and 36 may be provided in the top face of the top wall [6 forming the channel 38 parallel to groove 32 so that a cord or other fastening means may be passed around the container to hold the two parts of it together.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that I have provided a container which has a cover that can be reversed and interfitted with a base to provide an attractive display device, without the necessity of removing the article of merchandise from the base during the transition. The device may be made conveniently and economically from phenolic compositions or other. similar materials, and ornamental details may be added to the device to appeal to the eyes of prospective pure chasers. I make no claim herein to any ornamental features, but

I olaim:- V

'1. A container having base and cover parts, a portion of one wall of said container being carried by the base part, the remaining portion of said wall being carried by said cover part, said portions being formed to cooperate in one position to enclose an article of merchandise and to cooperate in a reversed position to form a device for displaying said article of merchandise, and means on said base part forming a receptacle for said article in both enclosing and display positions, said receptacle having a base wall which forms the bottom wall of the container when in enclosing position, and means forming channels in the top and bottom walls of said container for the reception of a tie cord.

2. A container for small article of merchandise, comprising base and cover parts, said cover part having a top wall, a side wall extending partially to the bottom of the container and other side walls extending fully to the bottom of the container, said base part having a base wall forming the bottom of said container and a side wall extending up to and cooperating with said partial wall of said cover to form a wall of said container in one position of said cover and base parts, said partial wall and said side wall of the base part being constructed and arranged to cooperate in another position of said base and cover parts to form a wall of a display device.

3. A container for small article of merchandise, comprising base and cover parts, said cover part having a top wall, a side wall extending partially to the bottom of the container and other side walls extending fully to the bottom of the'container, said base part having a base wall forming the bottom of said container and a side wall extending up to and cooperating with said partial wall of said cover to form a wall of said container in one position of said cover and base parts and to form a wall of a display device in another position of said cover and base parts, and means on said base wall forming a receptacle for said article, said means being within the walls of said cover part when said cover and base parts are in enclosing position.

JOHN L. HAWKINSON. 

